Testing device adapter for conventional flashlights



c. RosKlLLY 2,413,521

TESTING DEVICE ADAPTER FOR CONVENTIONAL FLASHLIGHTS Dec. 31, 1946.

Filed July 2, 1942- ...liz

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.AIllw .rt ragi kll Patentecl Dec. 31, 1946 UNI T ED STATE S SP'I'ENfl" OF F l C E TESTING .DEVICE ADABTERFOR 'CON-i VENTIONAL FLASHLIGHTS Charles Roskilly, Burbank, Calif.

Application July f2, 1942, Serial No. 449,479

1 claim. 1

'The invention relates vto improvements in 'devices for testing electrical circuits fior continuity of circuit, for voltage, and .for voltage in conjunction with polarity, and the primary object of the invention is to provide simple 'and eiii'cient compact devices of this character which can be readilycarried about on the person, and operated from a conventional flashlight, or other source of voltage.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the Vfollowing description taken in connection 'with the appended drawing, wherein for .purposes ofillustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the drawing:

.Figure l `is a general fragmentary side elevational view showing one of the testing elements .installed in the bulb socket of a conventional flashlight.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the 'said element.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connection of the said element.

Referring in detail to the drawing the nume-ral E'generally designates the testingunitfas a whole which comprises an element A, shown assembled in Figure l of the drawing.

The element A consists of agenerallycylindrical dielectric body 6 such as "Bakelitej for instance, having a substantially axial socket 1 formed in one end which is lined by a threaded adapter socket. ferrule 8 to which is connected the conductors 9 and 3l. The conductor lil is led through the iside of the body -6 by a suitable .insulated conduit Il), the conductor 9 being of a flexible type and terminating in a stationary sleeve il which mounts a sharp pointed electrode or probe l2. The conducto-r 3l vconnects with the 'extreme left contact 35, Figures 2 and 3, as

lend of the reduced portion I3 has a conductor i6 leading .into the chamber Il which is formed 4in any suitable manner `between the ends `of the body B as shown inFigure 3 of the drawing. A conductor I8 similarly passes .through the .re-

duced portion "i3 into the chamber l-l. The'conductors i6, 4| and 18,42 makesuitable electrical 2 connection with 'electrical .resistances and other instrumentalities encased in a suitable dielectric envelope I9 which is mounted'in the chamber il .and has projecting radially there-from la plu rality 'o'fcircumierentially spaced conductors 29 which terminate in lcontact heads which are substantially 'ush .with 'the outer surface of the intermediate part of the body t. VOne way to providelthe chamber il in the body @would be to continue the axial socket as 'far as to the rear end of the chamber il 'and close the opening by A.a wall l,plug in which the needed conductors can V'be imbedded. Another way `would be to make said body 'in 'two symmetrical halves.

Other circumferentially spaced conductors 2l `lead .from theleit hand end of the envelope I9 and .pass through the adjacent portion of the vbody f6 to connect with other vcircuinierentially spaced contact points which emerge at the surface ofthe body V6 in longitudinally 'spaced relationship from the 'rst-menti'oned contacts. Anothercontrol conductor 22 emerges from the envelope I9 'to connect with the center contact 23 vof the socket v8.

Revolubly mounted on Vthe .reduced portion i3 between the ferrule .I and the enlarged diameter vportionof the fbody E is a non-'conductive ring or annulus v2'4 on which is secured as indicated by thescrew, numeral V25 one end portion of an .upwardly bowed .conductive spring 26. The iiat portion which is traversed by the fastening lmea-ns -2'5 is projected .into 'the annulus 2li for vanchoring purposes as indicated by the numeral 21. The vopposite end of the upwardly bowed spring 2issharp1y upwardly curved as 'indicated .by the numeral 28 to engage with .the circle or contacts which underlies this portion ofthe spring Y2B. -Riveted 0r otherwise secured. as indicated .by the lnumeral 29 Ito the upwardly bowed por- .tionof vthe-spring 26 is the relatively rigid rod or bar 230 which extends longitudinally on opposite sides of the rivet y29 and Ahas the left hand Vend thereof downturned as indicated by the numeral 30 and provided with a vball contacter .terminal .3l which is arranged to engage the Acircle of contacts which is aligned therewith as shown in Figures 2 and 3 -of the drawing. The annulus y2li is adapted to be rotated to selectively engage .the contact .fingers 2i# and 3E with longitudinally naligned pairs of the contactsdescribed, 'to ccndition the element A for different types of tests. `As shown in Figure y1 of the drawing the plug Iltis .adapted to/be .screwed into the bulb socket .-32 of a conventional flashlight or attached to any other vsuitable current source, so that the element A will be conveniently supported with relation to the work (not shown). An electric light bulb 34 of a voltage and capacity commensurate with the source of voltage supply used is mounted in the socket 8 and the electrode I2 and the base of the flashlight are then applied to connect with the circuit to be tested. As indicated in the diagram shown in Figure 4 of the drawing the contact studs 35 and 3B are arranged in pairs in two circles to be bridged by the contact ngers 28 and 3I through the agency of the rod 30 and the upwardly bowed spring 26, when the annular 24 is rotated to the proper position. The end contact 35 is connected by the wire 31 with the conductor 9 of the probe or electrode I2 between the electrode and the light bulb 34, the connection being made on the ferrule 8.

The light bulb 34 when screwed into ferrule 8 completes an electrical circuit through its lament between ferrule 8 and contact 23. Contact 23 is connected by the wire 38 with the second contact 35, and the remaining contacts reading from left to right in Figure 4 of the drawing are all connected to the wire 33 at a point corresponding to their position in the succession, with the exception of the third contact which is connected also with the eighth contact by a wire 39 which is unconnected to the wire 38. With the exception of the rst and second contacts 35 all of the contacts 35 except the sixth Contact are connected to the wire 38 by resistances 43 of different capacities in accordance with the tests to be made. It is to be noted that the sixth contact 35 is connected by a plain conductor to the wire 38.

The rst ve contacts 36 are connected to the wires I6, 4I connected to the center contact I5 on the plug of the section A, while the remaining contacts 33 are all connected to the wires 42 and I8 which lead to the ferrule I4 of the plug.

The testing operations easily performed with the element A, with the contact fingers 28 and 3| on the correspondingly numbered positions of the contact studs 35 and 36 indicated on the diagram in Figure 4 of the drawing comprise (l) a test showing continuity of an electrical circuit, (2) polarity determination for diierent voltages by using different capacity light bulbs 34, (3) instrument circuit checking for such an instrument,

(4) instrument circuit checking for heavy instru-I ment circuits, (5) 21/2 volt check light, (6) 6 volt check light, (7) 12 volt check light, (8) 24 volt check light, (9) 110 volt check light, (10) 3 volt Bat. supply check. The check lights indicate the presence of voltage, by becoming incandescent.

The instrument check position will safely indi- Because of the inability of the mechanic or operator to readily discern what is going on in his electrical circuits without an aid, this tester is designed to ll that need. Its instrument testing features and simplicity of operation, along with its ruggedness makes it more adaptable to the mechanics needs than expensive instruments which are more complicated to operate and easily burned out from improper operation. The wrong 4 application of voltages on the tester will only burn out the bulb which is easily replaced, and inexpensive.

The device is designed for testing purposes only, and it is not to be used for illumination purposes, or for long intervals on any of its positions, with the exception of the Contf position No. 1 which can be used for illumination purposes if lit is desired. To use the tester, remove ilashlight bulb from flashlight 33, and screw it into the tester A; then Screw the tester in the ashlight where the bulb was removed, then turn on flashlight switch.

Following is a list of the testers different positions and their uses:

Tester on position Cont with light bulb of ashlight being used in tester, gives a continuity light for testing continuity of a circuit or equipment.

Tester on position 3v Bat. with or without a light bulb in tester, gives a 3 volt source for testing equipment that uses a 3 volt supply, when a two cell flashlight is used- Tester on position No. 1 Inst. with light bulb of ashlight being used in tester, gives a circuit for testing instruments for continuity and sensitivity. For testing instrument circuits and instruments in a ship without pulling equipment. For locating defective parts of an instrument installation. To use this test circuit, apply the tester to the instrument leads and if wiring through ship to instrument and instrument form a continuous circuit from the point tested, instrument hand will deflect. Flash test leads rst while someone watches instrument to see if hand moves in right direction. If hand goes backward, reverse tester leads.

Tester on position No. 2 Inst. with light bulb of flashlight being used in the tester, gives a circuit the same as No. 1 Inst. except that it will give approximately twice as much hand deilection.

Tester on position 12v. Lite. with light bulb of flashlight being used in tester, gives a 12 volt hot light for testing for voltage on circuits using 12 volts.

Tester on position 24v. Lite. with light bulb of flashlight being used in the tester, gives a 24 volt hot light for testing for voltage on circuits using 24 volts. n

Tester on position 6v. Lite. with light bulb of flashlight being used in the tester gives a 6 volt hot light for checking for voltage on circuits using 6 volts in cars, trucks, tractors, etc.

Tester on position No. 5 with light bulb of vilashlight being used in the tester, gives a 21/2 Volt hot light for testing for voltage on circuits using 21/2 volts, such as instrument light circuits,

3 volt output of transformers, warning light circuits, etc.

Tester on position -v. Lite. with light bulb of flashlight being used in the tester gives a 110 volt hot light for testing for voltage on circuits using 110 volts.

Tester on position POL with a 12 to 16 volt light bulb in the tester, which bulb comes in the tester, and the tester screwed into a ashlight 33 gives a circuit for checking polarity of voltages being worked on up to 24 volts. With a 21/2 volt light bulb in tester, it will check polarity of voltages up to 12 volts. When test prod of tester is on positive potential and ashlight case is on negative, the light bulb will burn dimmer than when test points are reversed.

Some aircraft use inverters, which as-a rule,

-have an output voltage exceeding the rated value.

In testing circuits using-supposedly 26 volt and 115 volt output of inverters, the positions are as follows:

Tester in position 2417. Lite. with a 2% to 3 voltlight bulb in the tester and the tester screwed into a ashlight 33 gives a hot light for checking for voltage on a 26 volt output of inverters, Autosyn instrument circuits, etc.

Tester in position 11G-v. Lite. with a 21/2 to 3 volt light bulb in the tester and the tester screwed into a flashlight 33 gives a hot light for checking for voltage on a 115 volt output of inverters, and circuits using 115 volts for drift meter gyro, radio compass, etc.

Test prod of tester is one test lead and the metal case of the ashlight is the other test lead. Light bulb must be screwed down into the tester and the tester screwed down into the flashlight, with the ashlight switch on. Continuity lights or hot lights must be checked before using them to check circuits or equipment. Y

Although there is shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto eX- cept as might be required by the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A testing device adapter for a conventional ilashlight, comprising, a dielectric body, a central chamber therein, a reduced portion at one end of said body, a recessed metal socket and a cooperating base electrode therefor at the other end of said body, a light bulb mounted in series with said base electrode and said metal socket, a conductive ferrule embracing an outward portion of said reduced portion, a rotatable member embracing an inward portion of said reduced portion, a housing in said central chamber, a plurality of resistances in said housing and connected each, at one of their ends, to one of a rst set of contact studs, a test prod connected to said metal socket, conductors connecting said base electrode to the other end of said resistances, a second set of contact studs, a conductor' connecting a portion of said seco-nd set of studs to said ferrule, a central electrode carried by said reduced portion and connected to the remainder of said second set of studs, a two-pronged switch xedly secured to said rotatable member, said rst and second set of studs being circumferentially spaced about said body, each in the path of travel of a prong of said switch, whereby rotation of said switch will place predetermined resistances in series with said central electrode, said light and said test prod, producing predetermined test circuits when the device is mounted in the conventional bulb socket of a flashlight.

CHARLES ROSKILLY. 

